Island archipelago nature reserve in Queensland's Whitsunday region
Molle Islands National Park
Molle Islands National Park protects a collection of continental islands in the Whitsunday archipelago off the coast of North Queensland, Australia. The park encompasses several islands including Long Island, South Molle Island, North Molle Island, Mid Molle Island, Tancred Island, Repair Island, Planton Island, Goat Island, and Denman Island, covering a total area of 18 square kilometres. Located approximately 913 kilometres northwest of Brisbane and easily accessible from Airlie Beach, this island park offers a distinctive blend of coastal and tropical forest ecosystems within a protected marine-influenced environment.
The islands feature a varied landscape of white sandy beaches, open eucalypt forests, rainforest-clad gullies, and grasslands that create diverse habitat zones across relatively compact island territories. The park sits within the broader Whitsunday region, a celebrated destination known for its natural beauty and marine environments. As a protected area managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Molle Islands National Park preserves both terrestrial and coastal ecosystems while providing opportunities for sustainable recreation and environmental education.
The traditional owners of these islands are the Ngaro people, whose connection to this coastal landscape predates European settlement and continues to inform the cultural context of the area. The park represents an important conservation asset within Queensland's protected area network, safeguarding island biodiversity and maintaining ecological processes in a region of significant natural value.